Sveçla: Three fingers symbolize ethnic cleansing, genocide, and Serbia’s claims on Kosovo

Kosovo’s acting Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Sveçla, stated that the Kosovo Police acted professionally and took necessary measures during today’s high school graduation celebrations in North Mitrovica to prevent further escalation. He also claimed that the three-finger symbol represents ethnic cleansing, genocide, and Serbia’s territorial claims over Kosovo.

Sveçla wrote on Facebook that all citizens of Kosovo have the right to organize and demonstrate in public spaces, especially when law enforcement authorities are informed in advance. 

“This was also the case with today’s demonstrations by high school graduates in North Mitrovica. Following the announcement, the Kosovo Police took all necessary steps to ensure the event’s full success. During the demonstrations, some participants began provoking citizens present at the square with nationalist symbols and chauvinistic slogans such as ‘Kosovo is the heart of Serbia’ and the three-finger salute, which not only symbolizes the ethnic cleansing and genocide committed by Serbia in Kosovo but also expresses the territorial ambitions this state has toward our Republic,” Sveçla stated.

He added that Kosovo guarantees all rights and cannot allow these democratic values to be violated by similar acts originating, as he claimed, from “Vucic’s autocratic, pro-Russian regime.”

“I call on all citizens, without distinction, not to fall for such provocations and urge them not to be instrumentalized by official Belgrade and the criminal mastermind Radoicic, who seek to escalate and destabilize the situation in Kosovo,” Sveçla concluded.